SUBWAY ART-BROOKLYN
Artwork: DeKalb Improvisation
(Stephen T. Johnson)
Installed in 2004 in affiliation with
the Percent for Art project, artist
Stephen T. Johnson created the mural entitled “DeKalb Improvisation,"
located on DeKalb Avenue Subway Station in Brooklyn, N.Y. The artists intention
was to commemorate the space as a center of historical and cultural
significance. The artist incorporated local iconography throughout the work by
including the local zip code (718) and the local area code (11217). The
other imagery of the mural is also instantly recognizable as the artist
reimagined features of portraits on playing cards we are all accustomed to
seeing at one time or another. The artist also stated that The King and Queen
motifs symbolize the final destinations of the subway – Kings County and Queens
County. The bright and vivid colors mesh together as a compilation of thousands
of glass mosaic pieces. The figurate and the abstract features of the work make
for a chaotic and brilliant spectacle that radiates movement.
Artwork: Gardens of Fort Hamilton
Parkway Station (Portia Munson)
In 2012 artist Portia Munson developed
a number of incredibly striking stained glass murals that are located all along
the platforms of Fort Hamilton Parkway
Station. The work consists of six sets of laminated glass photographic
images. Each piece measures approx. 4 feet high x 9 feet long and is divided
into five sections. The images are of gardens that were originally photographed
from an aerial view and taken during different seasons of the year and all of
the various gardens are comprised of flowers that can be seen growing in
Brooklyn. The natural repetition of the natural forms are inherently
reminiscent of mandalas and serve as a visceral moment in the lives of urban
travelers, tourists and commuters alike. The works are both fantastical and
meditative in their nature and almost hypnotic in their color.
Artwork: The Flora of Bensonhurst
(Joan Linder)
Joan Linder’s work: The Flora of Bensonhurst consists of
laminated glass pieces and were installed on the subway platforms of 71rst St.in
2012. The
artist initially created large scale drawings using pen and ink which were
later scanned and reproduced in the form of laminated glass. Evidently
the artist deliberately rendered the plants in cool colors on the Manhattan
bound platform where as Brooklyn bound direction is composed of warm colors.
The drawings of the plant life are also intentionally swaying in conjunction
with the trains direction. This permanent art piece of botanical images serve as a tribute the flora and fauna of the
neighborhood.
Artwork: Brooklyn Bucolic (Ed
Kopel)
At the
station of Avenue H in Midwood, Brooklyn is a shingled wooden cottage that initially
constructed as a real estate office that turned transit station house. The
building was constructed at the turn of the century and is now the only station
designated a landmark by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission in
2004. Artist Ed Kopel paid tribute to
this site in 2012 with with his new piece, Brooklyn Bucolic. The artist altered the exterior of the
building by turning the north and east façades into an active community porch
while the building retains its original charm. The artist modeled the cast
bronze rocking chairs after the 19th century which are anchored in
place and varying in size. Each chair bears a unique treatment whether it be in
the weaves, colors and pattern. The placement and uniqueness of each chair
creates an interesting narrative content as the cozy porch setting commemorates
a simpler time and reflects the sites unique charm and authenticity of the
location.
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